Plus Ultra.It means "Further Beyond."I don't really get it, but apparently it's something like, "Push past any wall, no matter how tough, damn it!"They say this phrase is repeated so much at U.A. High School—the place where aspiring heroes are trained—that it practically drills a hole in your ears.…U.A. High School.That was also the name of the school I once aimed for.If you ask me why I say "once aimed for" instead of "am aiming for," well… the answer lies in this very situation.
"Kurogiri... Is this the one?""Yes. He appears to have sufficient ability. He meets the standard the doctor set. The air superiority hero who keeps over twenty sidekick partners at his agency: High Ace…!"
"You bastards…! Where the hell is this!? Who are you people!? What the hell did you do!?"
The hero in front of me talks a lot.Given that he doesn't grasp the situation, it's only natural for him to try and gather information from whoever's closest.But trying to escape from reality under these circumstances is inexcusable.Choosing to flee isn't inherently wrong—but if you can't run, then you'd better get ready to fight, fast.
"No one will interfere here. There's not a single building within three kilometers—it's all mountainous terrain..."
"!! Y-You… You abducted me intending to kill me, didn't you!?"
"Look around you and you'll understand. Accept the situation... In the end, no one gets to run away."
Wrong.Those words weren't meant for the hero in front of me.They were for myself.I've lost count of how many times I've said them… but over the past two years, every day, over and over…And I kept averting my eyes from the fact that—I could still run away if I really wanted to.
"Damn it…!! What the hell are you people?! Villains!?"
"You could say that about me… But not about him.""Yeah, don't lump me in with that guy. I'm just a lab rat."
Come on, let's get started.I'll do it my way again today—wrong as that may be.
I feel the earth twist and surge, gathering around me.Quirk: Activated.
Two years ago.At the National U.A. Affiliated Sobu Middle School, one of the special classrooms in its annex was used as the base for a certain club.The Service Club.
The teacher who got me involved in that club once said:
"With your current approach, when you meet someone you truly want to save, you won't be able to do it."
Is my current way really not enough?This comfort I feel now—these girls by my side…Am I truly unable to protect them?
I had enrolled at Sobu Middle School naturally, just following in my father's footsteps.Because I believed that if I wanted to become a hero, I had to go to U.A., and Sobu—being affiliated with U.A.—was the natural choice.
But after joining the Service Club, after meeting those two girls, my will solidified.What had once been a vague feeling turned into true resolve.I would become a hero—just like my father.
And on the very day I made that decision…The path to that dream was sealed off.
"Take this!!"
The Air Supremacy Hero: High Ace.True to his name, he attacked from the sky.His Quirk: Levitation.He didn't morph his hands into wings or anything, so both his hands and feet were free.It was a powerful Quirk—granting him control of the air.He could accelerate beyond gravitational force, diving down at terrifying speed to strike.
…But against a close-range fighter, I held the clear advantage.That never changed.No matter how powerful my opponent might be.
"Tch… Damn it, he dodges too well!"
As I kept evading his attacks, he started cursing.Hardly heroic behavior—but I couldn't care less.
"…Don't want me to dodge?"
"…What?"
But my own attacks weren't landing either.So I decided to gamble.
"Then go ahead and hit me. I won't dodge."
"You bastard… You mocking heroes!?"
"Right back at you… I'm not one, but let me ask you—are you underestimating your enemy?"
Looks like I got under his skin.I could almost see steam rising from his head.He was taking the bait.
"Don't regret it later!"
The hero took his stance—to defeat a villain.
"That's not something I can promise."
The boy took his stance—for the sake of his wish.
"Regret? That's something I'm always carrying. Two years ago, now, and always. There's no stopping it."
"What about him?"
"Drop him somewhere public. Where he'll be seen."
As I brushed the dust off my abdomen, pain shot through me.No signs of internal damage—probably just pulled a muscle or two.
Taking a direct hit from a pro hero… yeah, that was reckless.But it was the quickest way, so I accepted the consequences.The pain would fade if I rested a bit.As long as I could get in close, the fight was already mine.
"So you're not going to kill him?"
"Why would I? I was only told to show my strength against a hero who commands over fifteen sidekicks. Technically, there was no need to take him down at all."
I only struck because it was clear—if I didn't, I'd be the one defeated.He wasn't someone I could hold back against.
"Then why not kill him?"
"…"
"Because it's unnecessary? That doesn't seem like the full explanation."
"Just take him and go already."
"…Very well. I have no desire to see your angry face, Connector…"
The black mist spread, enveloping the fallen hero, and with a gentle ripple, vanished.
…Kurogiri is one of the ones who made me what I am now.The one who physically brought me here.Right after I was captured, I thought of turning him and the rest of the enemy over to the heroes somehow.
But when I saw the figure lurking deeper behind them—that foolish part of me died in an instant.
This thing… it's a monster that should never see the light of day.And especially with my sister still…
…No. I need to stop thinking.There's no way out of this situation.Unless—
"Connector.""Back already?""Yes. Now, let's return to the hideout. We need to prepare.""Prepare?""Oh? You haven't heard yet?"
Unless—
"A large-scale assault is coming soon. It's Tomura Shigaraki's plan."
Unless… they decide to go through with something massive—and unnecessary.
U.A. High School.Just recently, the April entrance ceremony concluded, and the new students had just completed both their Quirk assessment physical test and their first battle training.
At U.A., the Hero Course consists of two classes per grade.Class A and Class B. Students in those classes are admitted through three main routes.
First, there are those who passed the highly competitive entrance exam.Among them is Izuku Midoriya, who secretly inherited One For All from All Might. He was assigned to Class A.
Second, there are students who were admitted through recommendations.Notable examples include Shoto Todoroki and Momo Yaoyorozu.
However, the third group… was a bit more special.On U.A.'s grounds is an affiliated junior high—most of its graduates go on to the General Studies course, but a select few… those with notable Quirks or certain circumstances…They come from the National U.A. Affiliated Sobu Middle School Hero Course.
And one of those Sobu graduates was now… driving Midoriya into a corner.
(Wh-Why is this happening to me…!?)
"Just answer me already, Izuku Midoriya. You know something about that incident, don't you?"
"P-Please calm down!""Indeed! Uraraka is right! Compose yourself, sudden-aggressive girl!!"
The day after the combat training, I was talking with Uraraka-san and Iida-kun in the hallway about that incident from two days ago.The topic was the Hero Abduction Incident.Just hearing the name, you'd think it sounds ridiculous… but the reality wasn't so laughable.
That day, a certain pro hero was reported missing.He had only been out of contact for about thirty minutes.But he was labeled missing because… he vanished right before his sidekicks' eyes in an inexplicable way.
Two of his sidekicks, who had been patrolling with him, were the ones to report it.The hero—High Ace—had been watching over the streets when his sidekicks turned to check left and right for disturbances. When they looked forward again… he was just gone.
They first looked up.High Ace had a Levitation Quirk and often shot off into the sky the moment he spotted a villain.So at first, they thought that was the case this time too.But he was nowhere to be found.
It was strange for High Ace to act without giving orders to his sidekicks.They tried calling him—but his phone didn't connect.Later it was revealed that his phone had already been destroyed by that point.
Realizing this was a serious emergency, they called in other nearby heroes, their agency, and the police for support.But the large-scale search ended before it could begin.
Roughly 300 meters from where High Ace disappeared, in an alleyway… a civilian called the fire department, reporting a hero collapsed and badly injured.
High Ace was unconscious but not critically wounded.The next day—yesterday—he woke up.After the hospital interview, the police decided to go public with the incident and released all available information.
"S-So what he saw was… a boy in a full-face mask and…"
"A man made entirely of black mist, right?"
"Huh? Then… you already knew about the incident?""Eh? Then maybe there's no need to ask Deku about it anymore…"
"Do you know anything else, Izuku Midoriya?"
"I-I-I mean… all I know is that it happened in a forested area, and that the boy defeated High Ace…"
"…I see. So you only know that much…"
Her expression didn't change, but her tone clearly dropped.Was she expecting more?
"U-Um… who are you?"
"Yukinoooon!!"
Just as Uraraka tried to speak to her, a cute and frantic voice called out.We turned to see a beautiful girl with light brown hair, styled partly in buns, wearing a slightly casual version of the standard uniform—rushing over and… tackling the black-haired girl!? What!?
"Yuigahama-san, please restrain yourself a little…""Wah! Sorry, Yukinon! Are you okay?"
Though she coughed slightly, the girl called "Yukinon" didn't try to push Yuigahama away.They must be really close. I mean, I only made friends yesterday…Maybe they've been friends since middle school?
"But Yukinon, you can't be like Gwaaaahh!! toward people like that. It scares everyone!""Please, Yuigahama-san, I didn't mean it that way…""Sorry! Yukinon didn't mean anything bad, okay?""…Sigh."
…How do I put it?Yuigahama-san seemed like a pretty modern high school girl… and pretty intense, too.Even as they talked, she kept hugging Yukinon.
"So, like I was trying to ask earlier… why are you so interested in the case? You seem to know just as much about it as Midoriya-kun…"
"!"
"Uraraka-kun, do you know her?"
Apparently, the girl called Yukinon was named Yukino Yukinoshita.…Wait, Yukinoshita? That's not a common name.Isn't there a company called Yukinoshita Construction?
A major firm with several subcontractors, doing business inside and outside the prefecture.The president is also a prefectural assemblyman… and the eldest daughter is that eccentric second-year pro hero—Sun Eyes.I've never heard of a younger sister… but could it be?
"Y-Yeah. Yukinoshita-san had the highest written test score of the entrance exam. Overall, she was second in total ranking. I knew she was amazing… but I didn't know she was so beautiful too!"
"Ehehe~n!""…Why are you the one looking so proud?""Because I'm happy! Seeing Yukinon get praised like this, I bet even Hikky would be just as happy as me!!"
The look on their faces at that moment—I'll never forget it.
Yukinoshita-san's face stiffened for just a moment.She clenched her arm tightly, so tightly it looked like she might draw blood…I was startled, and just as quickly, she returned to normal.
She looked calm—but to me, it wasn't a poker face.She seemed like a child trying hard not to cry.Earnest. Fragile.
Yuigahama-san, on the other hand, didn't hide her reaction.After seeing Yukinoshita's expression, she looked stunned… ashamed.She looked down, clutching her uniform, trembling…
"…Sorry. I lost my composure. Yuigahama-san, let's go.""…Yeah."
"Ah… wait!""Uraraka-san?"
"I understand. That question from earlier, right?"
They didn't want us to pry any further.Uraraka and I could tell—we had nearly touched something important to them.Even so, Yukinoshita-san chose to answer.
As if making a decision.
"I wanted information about the man made of black mist. If you ever learn anything more about him, please let me know. Thank you for this time.""S-See you later! I-I'm Yuigahama Yui! And this is Yukinoshita Yukino-chan, Yukinon!""Yuigahama-san, please don't go spreading my name around. I'm begging you.""She begged me!?"
The two walked away, joking (?), arm in arm.But something felt strange. I tilted my head.
Yukinoshita-san walked on the left.Yuigahama-san was in the middle.And on the right—an empty space.
Just seeing their backs as they walked away…It looked so lonely.
"…How should I say it… they're a mysterious pair.""They're in the same class as us. I think they're from Sobu Middle School.""Oh, U.A.'s affiliated one? Then they're a bit ahead of us, huh."
"Indeed! They're elites among elites!""Right… wait, ALL MIGHT!?""I appeared suddenly!!"
Suddenly, the Symbol of Peace himself appeared—All Might.Japan's No.1 Hero… and my idol.
Last spring, I had the chance to talk to All Might by coincidence—and he acknowledged me.He told me, "You can become a hero."It was a miracle. He even offered me his Quirk: One For All.I accepted immediately.
After nearly a year of training, I inherited his power.And despite getting beat up in the exam, I made it into U.A.—his alma mater!
"By the way, about earlier—try not to bring it up again, okay?""W-Were you listening!?""I was hiding right there the whole time! I felt bad, but I really wanted to step in!"
He gave me a thumbs-up. I was stunned.How could someone so massive hide so well!?All Might… are you secretly a stealth master?
"Midoriya-kun, you know about the villain attack at the seaside amusement park two years ago, right?""Y-Yes! You mean the one with the Ferris wheel?""Three villains attacked. The facility was almost completely destroyed. Only recently has it been restored.""Yeah, I remember. It was such a bizarre case… The villains destroyed everything and then just disappeared before the heroes could arrive, right?""Ah! Oh yeah, I remember that too!""Same. My brother was called in about that.""Those girls—they're looking for information about those villains. Because… they were there when it happened.""Wha—!?""Just like you, they faced those villains… Though their scars may run deeper…""…What do you mean by that?""…I'm sorry, but I can't answer that."
That was the first time All Might refused to answer me.Which made me even more curious.If All Might is keeping something secret, it must be a very sensitive matter.…Or maybe there's a good reason he can't talk about it.Either way, it shocked me.If he ever rejected me personally, I think I'd die.
"Well, think of it as a gag order for now! You've got a class rep to elect today, right!? Go on then!""Eh? Really!?""Oops.""H-Hey, All Might!?"
…And off he goes.Still… that was the most serious I've seen him in a long time.Just like when we first met last year.
"Hmmm, class rep, huh…!""Are you running, Deku-kun?""Eh!? U-Uh… Yeah! Leadership's something a hero needs after all…!"
The villain attack from two years ago at the seaside park…All Might told me not to pry…But I still want to know.
Maybe… I'll investigate on my own.